Virtual Reality Training Improves Balance for Patients With Parkinson Disease

[Bolt_Upright]

In case anybody was looking for justification to buy a new video game:

Benefits of Virtual Reality Balance Training for Patients With Parkinson Disease: Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and Meta-Regression of a Randomized Controlled Trial 2022 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/a...

"A total of 16 randomized controlled trials were analyzed (n=583 patients with PD), with the methodological quality evaluation score ranging from 5 to 8 points. A random effects model was selected to combine effect sizes. Meta-analysis showed that the balance ability of PD was significantly improved after VR training compared with the control group (standardized mean difference [SMD] 2.127, 95% CI 1.202 to 3.052, P<.001, I2=95.1, df=15). It is worth noting that the intervention platform may be the main reason for heterogeneity. Meta regression analysis showed that no training program could predict the impact of VR training (P=.57 to .94) on PD balance ability. Subgroup result showed that a single training time of 0 to 20 minutes (SMD 6.446), 4 to 6 times per week (SMD 4.067), training for 3 to 5 weeks (SMD 62.478), training course reached more than 30 times (SMD 4.405), and 201 to 300 minutes per week (SMD 4.059) maybe have more benefit."

[Michel0220]

Thank you very much Bolt for this post. I use VR once a week to vary my exercise routines. I recommend the application below that allows you to practice boxing from home. It is both fun and physically demanding. You will of course need the Oculus VR goggles. youtu.be/x8RqM4dRfCE(Not working as expected?)

This clip shows the game going at a fast pace but you can run at a more normal pace.

[LeharLover62]

I’ve tried this a couple of times with my husband seated and helping him with the controllers. It’s still hard for him. But the apps that seem to me most interesting for folks with PD are the boxing games (Fit xr and thrill of the fight) rhythm and movement games like Beat Saber and the Tai Chi app. Also things like table tennis and tennis might be good. Just be sure to stay safe if you have balance issues.

Given this statement from the study and the outcomes, I think I’ll try again with hubby! “ A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study found that VR training increases the blood oxygen concentration in the prefrontal cortex of the brain, indicating that prefrontal cortex is involved in VR balance task and degree of activation is modulated by VR task difficulty [54]”

[Fumaniron in reply to LeharLover62]

Agreed. I do the boxing games on this Oculus Quest 2 platform and I can’t get over the amount of sweat generated! Also, when playing the ping pong, I find alternating hands different days helps me with my non-dominant hand.

[childsplay in reply to Fumaniron]

I find Beat Saber good for working on my non-dominant arm - I set a score with my good arm (one game only so it is not too high a score!) then try to beat it with the non-dominant. I don't know if it is connected, but that arm is now swinging again when I walk...

[Fumaniron in reply to childsplay]

Nice!

[Godiv]

I had wondered if that would be helpful. But money is flying out too fast now!

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Godiv]

Yes money is! And all I do is supplements.

I am in the process of evaluating all of my players and will be asking some of them to come to my office (and bring their playbooks).

[Godiv in reply to Bolt_Upright]

I need to do that too! I know; it's terrible. Amazon and other stores must love us :).

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Godiv]

I will post it once I am done (or sooner). For every item I am trying to do an elevator speech: Pitch to myself, in just a few minutes, why I believe this will help.

So far I have done Licorice Extract and Niacin. Those are keepers.

I think I will add a column for $, $$, $$$ like Yelp

[Godiv]

That would be great thank you! I’m getting so confused with supplements and what to take when and all that — and what to take LOL. A $ rating system would help for sure.